Actas de congresos
Numerical simulations of marine hydrokinetic devices using actuator disks and a hybrid URANS/LES turbulence model
Fecha
2014Institución
Resumen
The Chacao channel in southern Chile has been identified as an important tidal energy
resource that can potentially contribute a significant power capacity in the near future.
The installation of marine hydrokinetic (MHK) turbines in this and other coastal areas,
however, will require to overcome challenging technical, environmental and economical
aspects, which are also specific for each site.
Motivated by the need to learn more about the physical and environmental processes
related to the installation of turbine arrays in the Chacao channel, we carry out a
comprehensive study that includes detailed field measurements, laboratory experiments,
and numerical simulations of devices for a wide range of scales, with the objective of
studying wake interactions and their environmental effects.
In the presentation we will show the simulations performed with a 3D numerical model
using the actuator disk parameterization, and coherent-structure resolving turbulence
models in high Reynolds number turbulent flows. The results are validated with
experimental data, and show the interaction of the devices and potential local impacts at
intermediate scales. We will also outline topics for future research and a framework to
integrate the models at different scales.